@toejam Hi Jerry, I do love pickle juice and actually drink it for no other reason than that, but these are not run of the mill cramps. No electrolytes, hydration, magnesium, stretching or massage, help. They happen for a few weeks and then stop for a while.

Many years ago, maybe 15, when it started, it'd be one calf. I thought it was just a cramp. I tired all the suggestions. It never happened more than a week at a time then.

As time has gone on, iit became calf and shin simultaneously. Later, both calves and both shins at once. It was always in my sleep, but then it became while I was awake, lying on the couch or bed. Then it started happening when I was actually on my feet, which had previously been the only way I could get it to stop (stand up.) Then it became also my left hamstrings.

Honestly, the closest thing I ever got to thinking might really be the problem was gluten. I've tried a number of times to eliminate it, but since the phenomenon remits on its own for months at a time, and staying off gluten is a huge challenge for me (since it also doesn't cause any other obvious ill effects,) I've not been able to really find out. (I do know that it doesn't start again immediately after resuming gluten, so...)

I'm actually in the "have it" phase right now. I have a loft bed, and lemme tell you, that was a mistake. haha.